* By-elections are a gauge by which the popularity of the incumbent government is measured;
* By-elections can make real difference to balance of power when a ruling party's majority is lost in by-elections through deaths, resignation etc etc!
* Now, in Fiji, we have an electoral system where losers from all parties are waiting to be inducted into Parliament under Father Arms/Khaiyum's d'Hondt system, with Khaiyum enjoying unfettered power for next 4 years
“As the military regime was more or less acting outside the Constitution, the NCBBF should take the opportunity to push through the electoral reforms and amend the Constitution, by taking advantage of the military authority and ignoring the legal constitutional requirements for making such changes”. - Father David Arms, later one of the Election Commissioners
Sayed-Khaiyum responds to Karavaki warning
Thursday, August 27, 2015
ATTORNEY-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the general election was the only thing that determined whether a Government lasts and not by any other means.
He made the comment in Parliament during his right of reply to comments made by Opposition Member of Parliament Semesa Karavaki who said the end of the Government was near. Mr Karavaki did not withdraw his statement when asked by the Speaker, Dr Jiko Luveni whether he wanted to do so.
Mr Karavaki while contributing to the Sugar Industry Amendment Bill 2015 said the commissions had been removed with appointing authorities now vested on the Minister for Sugar.
Comparing with biblical stories, Mr Karavaki said even God instructed his people to make appointment through His criteria.
He added if that wasn't followed in Fiji, his fear was that this Government was bringing a structure to exert control over all avenues.
"They are taking over God's position and my fear is that this country is going to the brim of collapse," Mr Karavaki said.
He added if Government does not relook at the way it's going, then the end of this Government was near; this he said, was not associated to any current happening in the country.
"I say this with great conviction, I know my message is totally different; I have been convicted to give this message because if this Government does not relook at the way it's going, then, I am also convicted that the end of this Government is near.
"The end of this Government is near, I am not speaking on any other things happening, it is the conviction that I am given to say this because if we see here, even the appointments, the power if only granted to the minister to appoint certain people which are specified here," he added.
Government MP Samuela Vunivalu raised a point of order saying that it was seditious to say that the end of Government was near where Speaker Dr Jiko Luveni asked Mr Karavaki if he wanted to withdraw that statement.
He later asked the Speaker of what he said that was seditious. Source: Fiji Times
Thursday, August 27, 2015
ATTORNEY-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the general election was the only thing that determined whether a Government lasts and not by any other means.
He made the comment in Parliament during his right of reply to comments made by Opposition Member of Parliament Semesa Karavaki who said the end of the Government was near. Mr Karavaki did not withdraw his statement when asked by the Speaker, Dr Jiko Luveni whether he wanted to do so.
Mr Karavaki while contributing to the Sugar Industry Amendment Bill 2015 said the commissions had been removed with appointing authorities now vested on the Minister for Sugar.
Comparing with biblical stories, Mr Karavaki said even God instructed his people to make appointment through His criteria.
He added if that wasn't followed in Fiji, his fear was that this Government was bringing a structure to exert control over all avenues.
"They are taking over God's position and my fear is that this country is going to the brim of collapse," Mr Karavaki said.
He added if Government does not relook at the way it's going, then the end of this Government was near; this he said, was not associated to any current happening in the country.
"I say this with great conviction, I know my message is totally different; I have been convicted to give this message because if this Government does not relook at the way it's going, then, I am also convicted that the end of this Government is near.
"The end of this Government is near, I am not speaking on any other things happening, it is the conviction that I am given to say this because if we see here, even the appointments, the power if only granted to the minister to appoint certain people which are specified here," he added.
Government MP Samuela Vunivalu raised a point of order saying that it was seditious to say that the end of Government was near where Speaker Dr Jiko Luveni asked Mr Karavaki if he wanted to withdraw that statement.
He later asked the Speaker of what he said that was seditious. Source: Fiji Times
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